Browser extensions detect install

Question

I have one extension in Firefox and one in Chrome. I want to call a javascript function when installing or uninstalling the extension. It is possible in any of those browsers?

Answer 1

Firefox

• Detecting installation is already covered in this answer: Firefox extension opening a page on install
• Sample code to listen for uninstallation of the add-on (using the AddonManager API)

Google Chrome

In Chrome, there are no built-in methods to detect installation or uninstallation.

• One can check whether a localStorage flag on the background page exists, and act on that.

  if (!localStorage.getItem('my-extension-first-time')) {
      // Do something
      alert('Hello first timer!');
      // Set flag
      localStorage.setItem('my-extension-first-time', true);
  }
  

• There's no way to listen for the uninstallation of itself.
• The chrome.management API can be used to monitor external extension (un)installations.